Sustainability | ProBuilder

Adaptive reuse project at Boott Mills, Lowell, Mass.

Design

Building Codes and Adaptive Reuse: Ensuring Safety and Health While Meeting Housing Needs

Converting nonresidential buildings into multifamily units boosts the number of attainable homes in a community, and building codes play a critical role

A new home with solar panels on the roof

Government + Policy

DOE Announces Funding for Communities Adopting Energy-Efficient Building Codes

Approximately $240 million in funding will be given to 19 state and local governments working to reduce their impact on climate change and promote better building practices

Calculating energy efficient cost savings

Sustainability

Is Passive House Design Worth the Cost?

Higher up-front costs could be holding passive house design back, but some experts argue the long-term benefits outweigh the price

Lisa Morey, founder of Nova Terra, stands in front of machinery at a project site.

Q+A

Building Blocks to Sustainable Construction

Waste is being reborn as eco-friendly masonry in Lisa Morey's vision for a more sustainable future

Off-Site Construction

Can Off-Site Construction Techniques Help Reduce Carbon?

As climate change becomes a more pressing issue, builders are looking for ways to cut their carbon footprint. Off-site construction could be one option

Warehouse with modular homes under construction

Innovation

Affordable Housing Initiative in Alaska to Use 3D Printing

Using a HUD grant, a University of Alaska Fairbanks-backed team will introduce sustainable, affordable housing in Alaska's subarctic regions

Aerial view of snow covered mountains and residential area on the outskirts of Nome, Alaska

Planning + Development

First Geothermal Neighborhood in US Launches in Massachusetts

If more communities adopt the geothermal system, it could significantly reduce building emissions across the US

Cutaway view of a home's geothermal system

Innovation

Could 3D Printing Provide Homes That Cost Under $99,000 to Build?

A design competition in Austin seeks to find out

3D printer at work on walls of a single-family home

Affordability

St. Louis Launches Pilot Program to Create Affordable, Sustainable Homes

The program utilizes innovative construction techniques, including prefabrication and 3D printing

Sustainability

DOE Announces National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building

The new definition aims to standardize clean energy solutions across all residential and commercial buildings

Building with greenery growing from the roof

High-Performance Homes

Debunking 6 Common Myths About Passive House Design

Building homes to Passive House standards could be a game-changer for decarbonizing housing and providing much-needed homes. What’s holding it back?

House with solar panels on roof and A through D energy rating scale alongside it

Sustainability

Mention of Eco-Friendly Home Features Is on the Rise in Sales Listings

Home listing descriptions using eco-friendly terms have been rising over the past five years in line with growing consumer interest in the environment and energy efficiency

Aerial view of a row of single-family homes with solar panels on the roof

Sustainability

Fortera Takes Concrete Steps to Reduce the Climate Impact of Cement

Clean-tech company Fortera, which uses technology to capture carbon emissions form cement manufacturing, will open its first commercial-scale operation on April 12, 2024, in California

Aerial view of industrial-scale cement plant

MVP Awards

6th Annual MVP Awards: Sustainable Building

The Most Valuable Product Awards showcase the best in new building product design, innovation, and functionality. Here are the winners in the Sustainable Building category

Building Codes and Adaptive Reuse: Ensuring Safety and Health While Meeting Housing Needs

DOE Announces Funding for Communities Adopting Energy-Efficient Building Codes

Is Passive House Design Worth the Cost?

Building Blocks to Sustainable Construction

Home Builders Institute's Schools to Skills Grant Application Open Through December

As Mortgage Rates Rise, Buyers Lose Purchasing Power

Renters Are Choosing Single-Family Homes for These Features